Bois de Boulogne (Boulogne Woodland Public Park), Paris

Paris's second-largest park, Bois de Boulogne, which is just slightly smaller than Bois de Vincennes on the city's eastern side, served as a hunting ground for the kings of France in the past but now draws the attention of art enthusiasts, courtesy of the art-filled Fondation Louis Vuitton located in its northern section, and nature lovers who can relish the park's bridle paths and cycling routes.

Created between 1852 and 1858 during the reign of Emperor Louis Napoleon, the park spans an area 2.5 times larger than Central Park in New York and is comparable in size to London's Richmond Park. Its boundaries contain an English landscape garden with several lakes and a cascade; two smaller botanical and landscape gardens (the Château de Bagatelle and the Pré-Catelan); a zoo and amusement park in the Jardin d'Acclimatation; GoodPlanet Foundation's Domaine de Longchamp dedicated to ecology and humanism; the Jardin des Serres d'Auteuil (a complex of greenhouses holding a hundred thousand plants), two tracks for horse racing, the Stade Roland Garros where the French Open tennis tournament is held annually, and various other attractions.

During weekends, the Bois de Boulogne buzzes with numerous activities, including biking, jogging, boat rowing, horseback and pony rides, and remote control speed boat racing. In July, the park hosts a three-day weekend party with over 50 bands and singers, which mostly attracts students who camp out overnight.

Bois de Boulogne is home to several red squirrels, protected by French law, and park regulations mandate that dogs be kept on leads to ensure the squirrels' safety.

The park is accessible 24/7, and visitors are welcome to picnic in most areas.